This legislation authorizes funding for the United States Coast Guard through fiscal year 2019 and supports its plans to recapitalize and modernize its assets to carry out its critical missions.

Specifically, the bill authorizes $7.9 billion for Coast Guard operating expenses and $2.6 billion for procurement, construction, renovation, and facilities improvement in fiscal year 2019. For fiscal year 2018, $12.1 billion was appropriated to the Coast Guard, a $1.7 billion increase from fiscal year 2017. President Trump and his Administration remain committed to prioritizing policies that strengthen and ready our military.

The following individuals were in attendance:

The White House

President Donald J. Trump

General John Kelly, Chief of Staff

Derek Lyons, White House Staff Secretary

Shahira Knight, Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs

Doug Fears, Deputy Assistant to the President and Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor

The USCG is having to replace its aging fleet with newer vessels and equipment, the newer ships are better and faster than the older ships, the equipment is better, the aircraft are lighter and therefore have more range for doing rescues at sea, and since the ships are multi faceted, they make going after drug smugglers a bit easier. And yes the US COAST GUARD ships are still armed and the men know how to use those weapons systems.